Entrepreneurship Development in Food Processing Industry: A Case of Fruit and Vegetable Based Units of Assam

Abstract

Assam located in North Eastern part of India is predominantly an agricultural state. Its unique geographical and climatic condition has endowed this land with a wide range of horticultural products. The rich and fertile alluvial soil of this region is very good for the growth of fruits and vegetables. Almost every home in Assam both in rural and urban areas has some kind of fruit and vegetable cultivation which can serve as raw materials for fruit and vegetable processing industry. But inspite of the availability of the raw material, the fruit and vegetable processing industry in Assam is not prosperous and is still in its infant stage. Through some units have made their way to prosperity but such are very few in number and their development are not organized and steady. This paper depicts the unique features of the fruits and vegetable processing units of Assam. Further, for the overall development of any industry, finance is a key factor. Therefore, the paper also laid special emphasis on the financial assistance provided by the government to this industry. Efforts are been made in this paper to study the adequacy of the financial assistance provided to this industry by the practical survey of the units existing in Assam. Moreover, the paper also tries to provide information regarding the total number of the fruit and vegetable units registered in Assam as per the records of the Directorate of Industries, Government of Assam along with the district wise analysis of the units. Last but not least, the paper brings about certain strategies and measures to be taken both by the entrepreneurs and the government for the future progress of the industry.